Michael Fulcher
Professor Pecora
English 141324 July 2012
The Truth about Anabolic SteroidsWhen someone thinks about drug related deaths they might think of cocaine, ecstasy, or heroin but very few people think of anabolic steroids. Some people wonder, what is an anabolic steroid? A steroid is a basic four-ring carbon structure, but different types differ in the number of carbon atoms attached to the number 17 carbon atom in the molecule, and in the way which hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and the hydroxyl (OH) groups connect to the carbon atoms. To put it simply, it's a manmade drug that mimics testosterone in the body. There are many other types of steroids but for this article the focus is anabolic steroids. It is an illegal drug that people, mostly politicians and general public that don't know any better, claim kills hundreds of athletes and non-athletes every year while others, doctors and users, call it a wonder drug that saves lives every day? When someone hears about steroid use they might think of athletes using them to gain an edge in their respective sport or body builders using them to gain size and strength. Steroids do these things but they are also used every day in hospitals to help treat asthma, burn victims, cancer patients, and even HIV and AIDS patients plus many more. Which type of steroid also affects what laws they fall under? Prednisone and estrogen can be given as a prescription and are not controlled but anabolic steroid testosterone is controlled. Why then, are anabolic steroids illegal? Today steroids are among the most prescribed and safest drugs in the world. During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson won the gold for 100m final defeating the American Carl Lewis, who was also on performance enhancing drugs but it was covered up stating he used without intent to gain an advantage. Ben was then submitted for drug testing which he failed. His urine was found to contain stanozolol, an anabolic steroid, and he was disqualified after which the gold was given to Carl. After this the U.S. Congress considered putting steroids on the controlled substance list even though the AMA (American Medical Association), DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) were opposed. The opposition claimed that steroid use did not lead to a dependence on the drug like cocaine does. It was placed on the list as a schedule III item in the Anabolic Steroid Act of 1990. This made having Anabolic Steroids the equivalent of having a kilo of cocaine. Placing steroids on this list also raised the criminal penalties for offences as position, distribution, and use. Because of the campaign against steroids lead by congress the public has been misinformed. Now many people claim that steroids are harmful and kill hundreds of athletes every year by claiming heart attacks, strokes, and even cancerous tumors have been caused by using steroids. The truth to this is that there hasn't been any long term study to back up these claims by any scientific means. In a study done in 2009 by the Center for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) it was stated that there were 24,518 alcohol-induced deaths, but for steroids, no direct number for this year was given which could mean that there were no steroid related deaths during 2009. It is not stated however, that there are any steroid related deaths. Now there are some side effects to taking anabolic steroids and not everyone will experience all or any of them. These effects can include thinning hair; acne on face, back, and chest; shrinking testicals, mood swings due to increased testosterone. Anabolic steroids are more dangerous to young teenagers because they can cause stunted growth. What the steroids do is cause the male estrogen to rise and this causes the growth plates to fuse early, this is why women are usually shorter than males. It can also cause gynomastia, that is...

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Effects of AnabolicSteroids on the Performance of Bodybuilders' Hearts
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Anabolic Androgenic Steroids and Bodybuilders’ Hearts
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...AnabolicSteroids
Description:
Anabolicsteroids are performance enhancing drugs. They are a
synthetic form of the chemical testosterone that is normally found in the body.
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Anabolicsteroids can be taken in two ways, by injection or they can be
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...Running Head: ANABOLICSTEROID INVASION
AnabolicSteroid Invasion On the Youth of America
Michael G. Kennedy, Jr.
American Military University
Abstract
Throughout history, man has been developing performance enhancing drugs to promote the wellness and physical characteristics of the human body. Steroids have been a hot topic on performance enhancing for many years and now, with the onslaught of professional athletes standing accused of using steroids, this steroid topic has emerged on the fore front of main stream sporting news. How exactly do steroids work in the body? Why are more and more young people abusing steroids? And what exactly are the disadvantages to both men and women that use steroids for performance enhancement? These areas and others will be covered in this essay.
AnabolicSteroid Invasion On the Youth of America
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In the article dated May 20, 2010, there are many facts proven aboutanabolicsteroids. The article tells us what was done to prove that anabolicsteroids can cause chromosome damage and cytotoxicity. 50 adult males were experimented in this process; 15 of them practice weight lifting and are consistent anabolicsteroid users, 15 are weight lifters, but do not use anabolicsteroids and the final 20 do not practice any physical activity regularly. The 15 people who do not use...

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The competitive drive to win at all cost is fierce among athletes. Winning at all cost often includes using one of many performance enhancing drugs such as anabolicsteroids. Many athletes use performance enhancing drugs, like steroids, to achieve higher goals and set higher records than other drug-free successful athletes. Although athletes are performing at higher levels when using such drugs, what is the cost? Finally anabolicsteroids should remain banned from sports because their use results in many harmful side effects; because their use violates sports regulations, and because their use can cause death.
Anabolicsteroids should remain banned from sports because of the many harmful side effects that are a result of their use. Many athletes take anabolicsteroids at a much higher dose than prescribed for medical purposes in order to achieve at higher levels of performance. When used at much higher doses then prescribed, the use of anabolicsteroids has harmful short and long-term side effects. Some of the harmful short-term side effects for male athletes who use anabolicsteroids may include prominent breasts; a higher voice or, infertility. Female athletes who use anabolic...

... These secrets are kept by public gyms, membership health clubs and even high school sports. This secret is killing our youth and disrupting the sportsmanship of not only the United States, but also on an international level. What I am referring to is the use of anabolicsteroids. This epidemic is spreading through our country like a wildfire. It is going unnoticed and misunderstood. Even our government has not found the money the man power or the time to deal with this killer. It can be bought wherever pleasure or illicit drugs can be found.
The people who push these drugs are usually the people teenagers look up to. The drug pushers are the kids teachers, coaches and even their parents. It seems to me that if a parent pushes steroids on their children that they are not living in reality. They are probably living the lives they never had through their children. When the children do not live up to the parents expectations the parents push the drugs to make the children the best they can be even if it kills him. It is a shame to see that the parents are living their dreams through their kids and killing them in the process. Along with the parents and the coaches, another big contributor to steroid use among teenagers are everyday sports heroes. If a professional sports figure is busted using any drug he should be banned from all competition and be forced to teach or attend classes that show what the...

...The Effects of AnabolicSteroids
You've seen them, and you thought you knew what was going on. The
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their use. Along with increased strength and size, users of steroids suffer
from ailments like cancer, bad acne, hair loss, damaged organs and intense mood
swings.
Anabolicsteroids are a group of muscle building chemicals, which are
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